PARTY LINES: Tribal casino compact gets green light

If the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe goes on to meet the remaining requirements to build a casino in Taunton, there will be a rulebook of sorts in place to govern the facility.

Gerry Tuoti

If the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe goes on to meet the remaining requirements to build a casino in Taunton, there will be a rulebook of sorts in place to govern the facility.

The federal review period for the tribal-state casino compact came and went this past week without the Bureau of Indian Affairs rejecting it, meaning the agreement is essentially deemed approved.

Under the compact, the tribe would pay the state various shares of its casino revenue depending on its level of exclusivity in the Massachusetts gambling market. If the tribal casino is the only casino in the state, the tribe would pay 21 percent of its revenue.

If another casino opens elsewhere in Massachusetts, the share would drop to 17 percent.

In the event that Raynham Park is awarded a slots license, the Mashpee’s payment to the state would drop by another 2 percentage points.

The tribe would pay the state nothing if another casino were approved in the southeastern region.

The major remaining hurdle for the Mashpee is getting a federal land in trust approval to obtain sovereignty over the land they have under option in East Taunton. Many observers say the application process is long and difficult.

Amid doubts over the tribe’s ability to qualify for land in trust, the state Gaming Commission voted last year to accept applications for a commercial casino in southeastern Massachusetts. Commissioners say they will revisit the situation to gauge the tribe’s progress before deciding whether to award a license.

Inauguration set for Monday

The dust that has settled from the November election has been replaced by a thick blanket of snow, a sure sign that the city inauguration is near.

Taunton’s inauguration is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Friedman Middle School. Officials who won seats in the recent municipal election will be sworn into office for a two-year term.

TCAM-TV, Channel 15 on Comcast and Channel 22 on Verizon, will broadcast the inauguration live. It will also re-air the inauguration Jan. 9 at 9:30 p.m.; Jan. 11 at noon and 9:30 p.m.; Jan. 12 at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.; Jan. 16 at 9:30 p.m.; Jan. 18 at noon and 9:30 p.m.; and on Jan. 19 at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.